Alumni: Miles McDowell

When deciding to attend Centenary College, Miles knew it was the college for him. To Miles, the College seemed alive, fun and full of opportunities. Because of the size of the College, he immediately got a sense of community, that he was more than just another student…and was impressed by the professors and their relationships with their students. A larger school was not an option for Miles because "… I would have been lost at a larger institution; the personal attention I got from the professors and staff was worth more than gold to me."

"I think the personal attention that the professors give their students at Centenary was more than one could hope for," said Miles. "Not only are the professors good at what they do, they actually care about their students and their goals. The small class sizes were a big plus to me, and the ability to have a more "hands on" learning experience help me greatly."

Miles credits his education at Centenary as preparing him for his career once he graduated, firmly believing that the degree he received at Centenary allowed him to be where he is today, and opening doors along the way.

"Centenary provided me a strong foundation from which I was able to gain an advanced degree and later feel comfortable in a highly technical industry full of smart people,” he said. “The liberal arts program taught me how to think critically, to constantly ask questions, and to challenge myself."

After graduation, Miles went on to study coastal geology/sedimentation in Southern Louisiana and Northern California while at the University of New Orleans, where he received an M.S in Geology. He then started work as a Petroleum Geologist with Sklar Exploration Company.

While attending the College, Miles cherished the student-professor relationship and credits it with helping him achieve his goals. However, now that he is in the geology industry, those relationships have turned into something else for Miles.

"My favorite interaction with my former professors since I have graduated and have worked for a few years is that now I am able to talk to them as friends and colleagues, which comes from a student/teacher relationship. Several of my professors are people I now consider close friends."